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Death threats for Charlie Hebdo after pillar of Islam ‘joke’ cartoon

Charlie Hebdo became a symbol of free speech when 11 people were killed at its offices during the Paris attacks of January 2015AURELIEN MEUNIER/GETTY IMAGES

The French satirical magazine where 11 people were killed by terrorists is facing renewed threats over its denunciation of an Oxford professor accused of rape.

Laurent Sourisseau, editor of Charlie Hebdo, said that he had filed a criminal lawsuit over death threats circulating on social media after its coverage of Tariq Ramadan, an Islamic scholar, last week. Under French law, police must now investigate the threats.

The magazine’s front page featured a drawing of Professor Ramadan with an erect penis saying: “I am the sixth pillar of Islam.” It infuriated many Muslims, who said it was an attack on their religion. Although most Muslims believe Islam has five pillars — faith, prayer, charity, fasting and the pilgrimage to Mecca — some say a sixth is jihad.…